Conferences & Awards
The Spirit of America Award
The Spirit of America Award, which is co-sponsored by NCSS and Social Studies School Service, was created to give recognition to an individual who has made a significant contribution that exemplifies the “American Democratic Spirit.” The award honors persons who follow their conscience and act against current thinking in order to stand up for equity, freedom, and the American spirit of justice.
2024 Award Winner
Danielle Allen is a renowned scholar, civic advocate, and thought leader whose contributions span across academia, public policy, and community activism. She holds the title of James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University, where she leads the Democratic Knowledge Project and the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation, engaging deeply with questions of citizenship, ethics, and public policy. An accomplished author, Danielle has published works that have sparked meaningful dialogue on issues of citizenship, equality, and democracy, including Talking to Strangers, Our Declaration, and Justice by Means of Democracy. Her dedication extends beyond academia—Danielle actively contributes to civic reform through her leadership with Partners in Democracy, advocating for an inclusive social contract that represents all voices. As a co-chair for the Our Common Purpose Commission, she works to create pathways to greater civic engagement. Her insights reach a national audience through her column on constitutional democracy in the Washington Post, where she regularly tackles pressing issues facing society today.
List of previous award winners:
Year Received
Recipient Name
1989
Ralph Nader
1990
Jimmy Carter
1991
Marian Wright Edelman
1992
Rosa Parks
1994
Barry Goldwater
1995
Marva Collins
1996
George McGovern
1998
Dolores Huerta
1999
Fred Rogers
2000
Morris Dees
2001
Elizabeth Campbell
2002
George Mitchell
2003
Hugh O' Brian
2004
George Russell, Jr.
2005
Jim Lehrer
2006
Chief Joe Medicine Crow
2007
Loung Ung
2008
Firoozeh Dumas
2009
Greg Mortenson
2010
Da Chen
2011
Diane Ravitch
2012
James W. Loewen
2013
Rep. John Lewis
2014
Jose Antonio Vargas
2015
Masahiro Sasaki
2015
Clifton Truman Daniel
2016
Terrence Roberts
2017
Rosa Rios
2018
Khizr Khan
2019
Sylvia Mendez
2020
Nikole Hannah Jones
2021
Florent Groberg
2022
LaGarrett King
2023
Zoe Weil
2024
Danielle Allen